Chapter 9: The Betrayal Beneath the Trust
I couldn’t move.
The transfer request sat on my phone screen like a threat.
Someone was trying to access Donovan’s trust.
Someone was trying to force a decision.
Caden looked at me.
“Emma, I swear I didn’t do that.””
I didn’t answer immediately.
Because the truth was complicated.
I believed he was scared.
But I also knew fear had made him dangerous before.
“Who has access?””
I called Jonathan again.
He answered immediately.
“Did you see it?””
“Yes.””
“We blocked the request.””
“Who submitted it?””
A pause.
Then:
“The request came from inside your company.””
My eyes closed.
Again.
Inside.
Always inside.
“Landon?””
“No.””
That surprised me.
“Then who?””
Jonathan hesitated.
“Someone closer.””
I looked around the room.
Closer than Landon?
Impossible.
Then Jonathan continued.
“Emma, the request was authorized with your old family security code.””
I froze.
“My old code?””
“Yes.””
Only three people knew that code.
Me.
My grandfather.
And my father.
My father had died years ago.
Which left only one possibility.
Someone had access to old family records.
Someone who had been there from the beginning.
“Jonathan,” I said quietly.
“Yes?””
“Find out who accessed my grandfather’s archives.””
“I already did.””
My heartbeat quickened.
“Who?””
His answer came slowly.
“Alexis Carter.””
I turned toward my mother.
She was standing near the hallway.
She looked like she already knew.
“Mom?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Emma…”
The room became silent.
Caden looked between us.
“What’s going on?””
My mother sat down.
“I didn’t want you involved.””
I felt hurt.
“Why?””
“Because I promised your grandfather.””
I stared at her.
“Promised him what?””
She wiped her eyes.
“That if anything happened, I would protect you from the truth.””
The words made no sense.
“What truth?””
She looked at the family portrait.
“Your grandfather didn’t trust everyone in the company.””
“Because of Landon?””
She shook her head.
“Because of your father.””
The air disappeared from my lungs.
“My father?””
She nodded.
“Your grandfather discovered someone had been stealing from the company.””
I whispered:
“Who?””
My mother looked at me.
“Your father.””
The room went completely still.
I felt like the ground beneath me had vanished.
“No.””
My mother’s tears fell.
“He regretted it. He tried to fix it. But your grandfather never fully trusted him again.””
I shook my head.
“You never told me.””
“Because I wanted you to remember your father as your father.””
I couldn’t speak.
All my life, I had believed my family’s biggest enemy was outside.
But maybe it had always been closer.
My phone buzzed.
Another message.
I didn’t want to open it.
But I did.
*Now you understand. Your family has always been broken.*
I looked at my mother.
Then at Caden.
Then at the message.
The person behind everything knew secrets from before I was even born.
And suddenly, I realized something terrifying.
This wasn’t a plan created six months ago.
This had been planned for decades.
My mother reached for my hand.
“Emma, there’s something else you need to know.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
Her voice trembled.
“Your grandfather didn’t leave you the company because you were his favorite.””
I waited.
“He left it to you because you were the only person he believed would never become like them.””
A chill ran through me.
“Like who?””
My mother looked toward the locked front door.
Then she whispered:
“Like the person who is standing outside right now.””
I turned.
A shadow moved behind the glass.
The doorbell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then a familiar voice called from the other side.
“Emma.””
My blood froze.
Because I knew that voice.
It belonged to the last person I expected to see.
My father’s old business partner.
May you like
Richard Vale’s son.
Landon Pierce.
